this sucks

Hiccups are what's called a "soft stop". This means they are a signal from your band that you are approaching full and you need to put down your fork and walk away. If I ignore the message, it can get ugly...

I use Isopure Zero Carb protein shakes post workout. They are only 60 calories, 15 grams of protein and zero carbs(for six ounces) and are shelf stable and premixed. I get them at Meijer, but they are also available at GNC in larger bottles. I know it's not vanilla, but they work well for me.

Doctor Kracker are amazing crackers with tons of taste! I get them at Marshall's/TJ Maxx. I know, an odd place to buy food, but since my dietician recommended them, I haven't eaten any other cracker/ crispbreads. They have 4-5 grams of Protein and 3 grams of fiber and only 100 calories. The pumpkin Seed Cheddar are also amazing. Someone told me that they ordered them on Amazon. I haven't tried that since I buy three or four boxes anytime I find them. Boars Head Ever-Roast chicken is in the deli case. It has a lot of flavor and is very moist so I've never gotten stuck with it-unlike other deli meats like ham. Since my surgery, I am always searching for foods with a lot of flavor (like the provolone!) and I tend to eat the same food for a long time. Hope this helps!

I'm almost three years post op and my cooler looks the same every day- Doctor Kracker Seedlander cracker, either low fat string cheese or lowfat Sargento sharp cheddar stick, natural applesauce, Fiber One Brownie, sliced cucumbers and a sandwich-made with whole wheat sandwich thins, Boars Head Ever-roast Chicken, olive oil mayo and one extra thin slice of Sargento provolone. I also make a water bottle with Crystal Light to drink. I am in sales and on the road all day so I pack a good variety of choices to keep myself from stopping for a fast food snack or meal. Lots of days there are still things left when I get home so I just leave them there for the next day, or the next, or the next.....except the things that don't last of course!

So sorry to hear that things aren't good.

For me, that hiccup/burp thing is a "soft stop" sign. It means trouble is coming if I choose to ignore it. Listen to your band and STOP eating when you get the sign!

Me too! Not only am I in sales, I am in the food business! I was banded almost three years ago and yes, I did have a learning curve. I carry premixed Protein Shakes, use a small cooler that I refill daily with yogurt, string cheese, healthy crackers and fruit and make sure that I have workout clothes in my suitcase. If you want excuses, they are always there. If you want to make it work, you will find a way. Remember, failing to plan is planning to fail! Best of luck to you!!!

If you want to lose pounds and inches, why not just do it the legitimate way-cut your food intake and exercise more? You didn't have WLS as a quick fix so why waste your money on another gimmick? I just don't get it...

I'm in the same boat as you hely. Each time I had a fill in the last year, I ended up going back and having an unfill. I have decided that my body is much too sensitive to live with a tight band. I end up eating slider foods to keep my blood sugar levels from crashing and end up gaining weight. Plus, I get reflux and sure don't want to damage my esophagus with the acid.

I will be three years banded in July.

I went to a bra store (Intimacy) and actually got fitted for my sports bra. It was worth the extra expense to get a really good one since I'm quite "ample" in the upper region. I will never wear a cheap sports bra again!

John since my band was placed, almost three years ago, plain water has a funny, metallic taste for me. I asked my dietitian about it and she has heard the same thing from other band patients. I drink 64 oz. of water, with Crystal Light Iced Tea in it, each and every day and it hasn't hurt me AT ALL. I'm drinking all of my recommended liquids with no calorie damage. Plus, having the liquids helps to keep me full. Good luck!

Did you have a hiatal hernia repair when your band was placed? Having a band placed will not cure reflux but loosing weight FROM the band will, that's what I'm saying. I'm not a doctor either, but I've suffered from reflux my entire adult life until my hiatal hernia was repaired when my band was placed.

Your band being tight won't prevent reflux. It will make it worse. I don't understand the expectation that the band being loose would correct it.

In my opinion, he's just trying to scare you. If something gets really stuck, they empty out the band completely and it passes through. I know this because I had the very unpleasant experience myself. I would bet that no one on here has ever had to have something surgically removed- ask around. I eat bread, usually wheat flat breads, it works better toasted, and occasionally rice or pasta. I can't eat the volume of those foods that I used to, but if I eat my protein first, I don't have more than a few bites before I'm satisfied.

Not sure where you are getting your statistic of 99%, but I'm sure that your estimation is VERY high. Be careful where you are getting information from. Ask your doctor for his complication rate, and don't make a generalization like you just did. We bandsters tend to be quite protective of our band and you are setting yourself up for some major response. Yes, there are risks of complications , but there are also risks associated with morbid obesity. I know what I choose.

For me, waking up with a sore throat is a sign that I'm too tight. It means that my reflux has flared up again and I need a slight unfill. Just had one yesterday due to exactly that!

Having witnessed a very good friend go through a year of chemotherapy as a result of melanoma and my beloved husband need plastic surgery to repair the hole in the side of his nose due to basal cell skin cancer, I think you are CRAZY to go tanning. JMO, but not something I'd want to see anyone else experience. You were banded to make yourself healthier...I just don't understand the irony.

You can purée anything! I was so tired of the sweetness of the liquid phase that I put all kinds of stuff in the blender-especially wanted savory flavors. I puréed cheese ravioli with red sauce thinned out with chicken stock, turkey taco meat with refried beans thinned out with salsa, and lots of other stuff. It doesn't look the greatest, but yummmmmmm!!!!!!! Good luck! Remember its only a short time.

And burp, and burp and burp! At almost three years out, I burp frequently (and loudly ). Be careful what you wish for!!! Best of luck to all of you though....

I'm with you Mis73 on this. I give myself a day off on holidays. I know that I work with my band most of the time and I will get back on meal plan tomorrow. I'll probably pay the price tomorrow because of the chocolate intake, but oh well. Life is too short to not have a few indulgences.

Yes, yes and yes! My journey has been challenging and my weight loss slow at times and yes, stalled for periods of time, but I have no doubt that I did the right thing. I sit here, drinking my morning protein shake planning out today's exercise routine in the smallest size clothing that I've worn in 24 years, off blood pressure medication, off metformin because I'm not pre-diabetic anymore and not suffering from sleep apnea anymore so YES! No regrets!!!

Hiccups are what is called a "soft stop". It's a sign you need to learn to watch for. It's the sign that you should stop eating, For some people it's a hiccup, for some it's a sigh, for me it's a burp/hiccup combo. Just means your band is doing its job of reminding you. Of course, you can keep eating, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should (as is quoted on here quite often).

Ditto to what Mis73 said. It's not realistic to expect to lose every day. Just keep doing what you are doing and it will catch up.